Overtraining????

[cash76]

I just wanted to get peoples opinion on this topic? Is there such a thing as training too much? If you alternate days (swim/bike/run) is there anything wrong with working out every day?

[dMartens]

In reference sources such as The Triathlete Training Bible, they stress the importance of recovering from your workouts. When training hard, your are breaking down your muscle fiber and you need to set aside down time to allow them to rebuild. Most of the literature I have read suggest taking at least one day off to recover. But I suppose that all depends on how hard you train and how you feel the day after. As far as overtraining goes, yes you can overtrain. What happened to me was I was riding a very hilly course very hard several days a week. When my knee started hurting, my doc said it was because I was overtraining and strengthening only the muscles that in the front part of my knee. This caused an imbalance and pulled my knee cap to tightly against the ligaments and caused a burning sensation. So, balance is important and listening to your body is important. Because yes you can over do it.

[audiojan]

You can most definately overtrain! The trick is to listen to your body and please do trust the heart rate monitor. With a tool like the HRM, you pretty much know when your body is getting stronger and when it's just taking a beating. Try to add one day a week of rest as this will allow the muscles to recover (and by that make you stronger).

[Triguy]

In my experience if you take your time increasing how much your doing every week then it takes a lot to overtrain. If you're patient you can build up to 10-14 workouts(as much as an hour or so each) without your body hitting the wall. However if someone jumped right into that, they would definately see the negative consequences.
Short answer, yes. Long answer, maybe with a but.

[late]

Check your heart rate before you get out of bed in the morning, and write it down. A 10% variation is normal, much over that and you need an easy day.

[caloso]

I do like Late. If I'm in the middle of a heavy training period, I take my RHR every morning. Here's my trick: I roll over on my side so that my ear lobe is jammed into the pillow. I can hear my pulse clearly and then I open an eye to my clock and count.

If it's elevated, I take a day off or do the minimum to get my blood moving like riding easily to work or walking the dog.